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Bobby Deol reveals his bitter experience with Imtiaz Ali, alcoholism

Actor Bobby Deol, who has been away from movies for some
time, is set to make a comeback with 'Poster Boys', which marks the directorial
debut of actor Shreyas Talpade. Bobby debuted with the hit ‘Barsaat’ and bagged
the Filmfare Best Debut Award, but after a few films, his career graph took a
downslide.

The actor with curly locks, who celebrates his 50th birthday
today (Jan 27), in a candid conversation to a daily opened up about his losing
stardom, his battle with alcoholism and his bitter experience with filmmaker
Imtiaz Ali.

Bobby claimed that he was the first choice for the 2007 hit ‘Jab
We Met’ and was heartbroken when Imtiaz announced the film with Shahid Kapoor
opposite Kareena Kapoor. He revealed that he liked Imtiaz’s directorial debut ‘Socha
Na Tha’, which was produced by his father Dhermendra, and had expressed his
desire with him. Imtiaz showed him the script of ‘Jab We Met’, which was then
titled ‘Geet’. As the director was looking for financers, Bobby got in touch
with a studio, Shri Ashtavinayak, and also approached his ‘Ajnabee’ co-star
Kareena, who was initially reluctant. He also approached his ‘Soldier’ co-star
Preity Zinta, but she had date issues, so the film was stuck.

“Days passed. And suddenly I read that Ashtavinayak has
signed Imtiaz for Jab We Met and Kareena is doing the film! And she had gotten
her then boyfriend, Shahid Kapoor to act opposite her. I was like, wow. Quite
an industry,” Bobby told The Huffington Post. He also revealed that he was
supposed to do ‘Highway’, but eventually made without him.

Talking about his disappearance from movies, Bobby said that
he couldn’t keep up with the changing times, the advent of social media. “I
guess I was too old-fashioned, couldn't keep up with the quickly changing
times. In my time, the 90s, everything was slow. People didn't talk about
themselves all the time. Your work did the talking. It was rare to see or
access a star and that made being one very interesting. There was no social
media, no internet, things were generally simpler. Suddenly, there was this
transition and I couldn't adapt to it. But now, I want to change that. I
really, really want to change that,” he said.

He also revealed that lack of work made him so depressed
that he was on the verge of becoming a total alcoholic. “There was a particular
phase where I turned to the bottle and was on the verge of becoming a total
alcoholic. My wife, Tanya told me, "What're you doing? This isn't going to
help.” And I am like, I was looking after myself for so long, kya hua? Did the
producers and directors chase me? No.”

“And then there was an awakening. I was like, I am not going
to sulk in self-pity. Not working makes you ill, sad, depressed. It ages you. I
am going to bounce back no matter what,” he said.

Bobby has been working out with a trainer for his comeback and
is aware that it isn’t going to be an easy task to ‘fit’ himself according to
the present-day perception of the industry. “I am aware of that and that's the
reason I am trying to look fitter and better,” he said.